The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 is a book about family. The Watson family lives in Flint, Michigan. Like all families, they have good times and bad. When one of their children, Byron, is beginning to make bad choices, the family decides to take a trip to get in touch with their roots. They pile into the 'Brown Bomber' and begin a journey to Birmingham, Alabama to see their grandparents. The family returns to Alabama during the Civil Rights Era when Dr. Martin Luther King is urging everyone, even the children, to stand for justice for African Americans. The story is told from Kenny's point of view. At 10 years old, Kenny is the middle child of the family. Along with many others, Kenny learns that freedom often comes at a high cost.
As we begin reading about the Watson family, we are going to explore their world through pictures, video and Internet articles.
First, we will look at the Civil Rights Era of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Next, we will go to the 16th Street Baptist Church and see the same places Kenny and his family saw so that we will better understand Kenny's experiences in Birmingham during a pivotal moment in history.
Directions for your assignment:
As you work your way through this wiki, you will read and explore each link and watch each video. After doing each part of the assignment, you will interact by answering questions on each discussion link. Your grade will come from the quality of your answers. There are five discussion boards, each of your answers will count 20% of your 100 point test grade.
Before you begin, meet the author,
Christopher Paul Curtis.
Click on his picture to explore his website.**
Like the main character in The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Christopher Paul Curtis grew up in Michigan. After he graduated from high school, Curtis worked in a factory and wrote books while he went to college. He is married and writes full time. He and his family live in Canada.
Home: The Watsons Go To Birmingham
The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 is a book about family. The Watson family lives in Flint, Michigan. Like all families, they have good times and bad. When one of their children, Byron, is beginning to make bad choices, the family decides to take a trip to get in touch with their roots. They pile into the 'Brown Bomber' and begin a journey to Birmingham, Alabama to see their grandparents. The family returns to Alabama during the Civil Rights Era when Dr. Martin Luther King is urging everyone, even the children, to stand for justice for African Americans. The story is told from Kenny's point of view. At 10 years old, Kenny is the middle child of the family. Along with many others, Kenny learns that freedom often comes at a high cost.
As we begin reading about the Watson family, we are going to explore their world through pictures, video and Internet articles.
First, we will look at the Civil Rights Era of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Next, we will go to the 16th Street Baptist Church and see the same places Kenny and his family saw so that we will better understand Kenny's experiences in Birmingham during a pivotal moment in history.
Directions for your assignment:
As you work your way through this wiki, you will read and explore each link and watch each video. After doing each part of the assignment, you will interact by answering questions on each discussion link. Your grade will come from the quality of your answers. There are five discussion boards, each of your answers will count 20% of your 100 point test grade.
Before you begin, meet the author,
Christopher Paul Curtis.
Click on his picture to explore his website.**
Like the main character in The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, Christopher Paul Curtis grew up in Michigan. After he graduated from high school, Curtis worked in a factory and wrote books while he went to college. He is married and writes full time. He and his family live in Canada.
Civil Rights-1963
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
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